Vienna is a city of pleasure. That becomes especially clear on New Year's Eve, when the whole city celebrates. High spirits abound at gala dinners, in concert halls, at the opera or in chic bars.

Vienna New Year's Eve Trail

A highlight on December 31 is the Vienna New Year's Eve Trail. From 2.00 pm in the afternoon to 2.00 am the following morning, top entertainment is guaranteed by the New Year's Eve Trail in Vienna city center. Along the New Year's Eve Trail, dozens of gastronomes serve punch, sparkling wine, and culinary specialties. Numerous areas provide entertainment with show programs, waltzes, rock, pop, disco, blues, funk, soul, and DJ lines. The New Year's Eve Trail runs from Freyung via Am Hof square, Graben, Stephansplatz, and Kärntner Strasse to Neuer Markt. The classical area on Graben is a popular fixture. Vienna's dance schools offer crash waltz dancing courses here during the afternoon and transform Graben into an idyllic open-air ballroom.

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At midnight, visitors to the New Year's Eve Trail dance into the new year to the sounds of the Blue Danube Waltz and the Pummerin, the famous bell in St. Stephen's Cathedral. It so happens that the Pummerin only rings on special occasions. One of them is the change of year. The ringing of the Pummerin on New Year's Eve is even broadcast on radio and TV, followed by Johann Strauss's famous Blue Danube Waltz.

The party happens with free admission at a total of eight locations - not only in the city center, but also at Rathausplatz and Riesenradplatz in the Prater. Instead of fireworks, there will be an opulent laser show synchronized with the Danube Waltz.

Please note that rockets and firecrackers (from category F2) are prohibited throughout Vienna.

"Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss is performed in traditional style at the Vienna State Opera on New Year's Eve. And on New Year's Day, all of Vienna watches the traditional TV broadcast of the Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert while enjoying a morning "hangover cure" brunch. The New Year's Concert will be broadcast live from the Vienna Music Society on January 1, 2026, to Stephansplatz and the Giant Ferris Wheel Square in the Prater, starting at 11:15 a.m. For the first time, a public screening will also take place at the MAK – Museum of Applied Arts. This is where the beloved ballet performance of the New Year's Concert was filmed this year. After the public screening, guided tours in German and English will be offered at the MAK to selected filming locations from the ballet film. Several Viennese hotels will also host cozy brunches with live broadcasts of the New Year's Concert.

© WienTourismus/Peter Rigaud/Couture Vivienne Westwood Vienna

Spectacular exhibitions, numerous concerts, operas and operetta hits, as well as musical highlights like The Phantom of the Opera and Maria Theresa – The Musical offer New Year's Eve guests a diverse and exciting program. Those who’d like to welcome the New Year in three-quarter time and dance into the new year to the sound of waltzes can do so at the New Year's Eve Gala at Vienna City Hall or the New Year's Eve Gala at the House of Strauss. 

• Overview of exhibitions in Vienna around the change of year

• Selected tips for a musical change of year

Vienna New Year's Eve Trail

December 31, 2025
2.00 pm - 2.00 am
Food and drink from 11.00 am
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